Time Traveler's Shops Speak Out!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Hello fellow Time Travelers. I just managed to squeeze in this month's inverview! It's my pleasure to announce that this time, I am interviewing the shop ArtSnark, fanciful objects for the eclectic soul. I must admit I am looking forward to talking with this shop; I love fanciful, and my soul is nothing if not eclectic. However, this interview is with ArtSnark, not me, so let's sit down with a nice cuppa and get started.

Me: Wow! You certainly *are* full of fanciful objects for the eclectic soul. As a shop, you have a more coherent collection than most. Your items have a definite style, and are indeed quite varied at the same time. Do you ever find your items bickering with each other about which has the best style?

ArtSnark: Funny you should ask that. For a while, every time my shopkeeper added a new painting, I was afraid it might not be welcomed. Especially if it was in a new style. But actually, my items never quarrel and get along just fine with each other. They've told me that since they all come from a different part of my shopkeeper's psyche, they feel a deep connection with each other. In fact, when our shopkeeper's been busy painting and hasn't listed anything new for a while, I've overheard my paintings whispering "We're bored. What's she doing? Painting a mural? We want someone new to talk to." Even though my paintings are wonderful, they are a bit demanding to create. I don't think they understand the concept that creating a painting takes much longer than listing it. Thank you. I'll have to have a talk with them about that.

Me: Happy to help. Do you have a favorite painting we can start with?

ArtSnark: I don't really have favorites because I love them all, but how about we start with two very different paintings and I can explain what I like about each?

Me: Great idea. You're so friendly and perceptive, I feel as if I don't even have to ask you questions; I can just let you run the show.

ArtSnark: Flattering is that is to hear, please don't! I don't get as much human contact as I'd like. You three-dimensional beings are so fascinating to me. I'm loving talking to you!

Me: Well, thank you very much. Let's go on to the two paintings, shall we?

ArtSnark: This is one of my favorite paintings. Not only is it exquisitely colorful, but it speaks to the mind as well as the eye. When this was first listed, I thought it was about a happy and free woman, and wondered if my shopkeeper had made a mistake with the title. Then I took a closer look and saw that her hair is almost invective, and the red took on the quality of anger. My shopkeeper can be quite subtle.

ArtSnark: Moving on to Red's Dream. At first glance it appears to depict a young girl resting, gazing happily into the distance, quite content. On further examination, we see that she is lying on what appears to be a skull, and the woman she might be dreaming about is facing away from her. As opposed to "A Woman Scorned," "Red's Dream" is heavily layered and collaged and easy to get lost in. I just realized the irony of comparing an angry woman framed in red, and a soft composition called "Red's Dream". My shopkeeper has painted a series of works about Little Red Riding Hood; none of which look remotely like the facile pictures you may have seen in children's books.

Me: I see your point. You know, it's fascinating to hear you deconstruct these paintings. If your shopkeeper ever moves on, you might consider a job as a docente.

ArtSnark: No no no! My paintings and I would be devastated to lose our shopkeeper. Thank you for the compliment, but I hope that never happens.

Me: Since you talk so eloquently about your paintings, can I ask you about a few of my favorites?

ArtSnark: Ah, Poppet Holiday. This is a mixed media piece, and began life as an ACEO. Despite its small size, the piece is full of detail. It again makes you wonder; is the poppet merely tired and glad to have a break, or is she devastated because her puppeteer dropped the strings and unceremoniously plopped her on the sand? I love this piece because it has the innocence of a child's drawing, yet so much complexity both of execution and theme.

Me: Uh, once again I find I have nothing to say; you've said it all. Here's another of my favorites:

ArtSnark: Well, of course the colors in this piece are breathtaking, and my shopkeeper told me that she woke up one dawn with this fanciful image in her head. I'm partial to paintings based on dreams. The combination of the helium balloon and the man riding a penny farthing is unusually clever, and the steampunk flavor shows the breadth of my shopkeeper's work. Again, we have an ACEO created from mixed media; subtle watercolors and bold markers.

Me: I feel like you should be credited for this interview, not me. You're doing all the work!

ArtSnark: Talking about my paintings is never work! It's one of my favorite occupations. May I end with a choice that highlights the breadth of my different paintings?

Me: Wow! That could have been painted by a different artist altogether!

ArtSnark: Ah, but it isn't. Once again, the green stripes of envy hide a very light yellow image of two lovers; most likely the origin of her envy.

Me: I could happily go on forever discussing your paintings with you, or, more accurately, listing to you explain them. But I'm afraid I have to cut this short. Thank you so very much for your time and effort. You are the most eloquent shop I've had the pleasure to interview.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Hello, fellow time travelers and time travelerettes. Since it had previously been so long between interviews, and because I desperately crave approval, I am going to interview another shop right now! A shop that is immensely cool and surprisingly varied, not to mention seriously dedicated to celebrating El Día de los Muertos with the respect it deserves. However, in the interests of full disclosure, I must admit that visiting this shop frightens me just a tiny little bit. Because I am afraid of skulls. If you haven't guessed yet, the shop I am interviewing is:

Me: I hate to begin with a question you must have heard ad nauseum, but do people ever tell you that they're a little scared of skulls?

dembones: Not so much as you'd think. For one thing, my shop title gives a pretty strong indication of my wares, so if someone is irrationally threatened by skulls, they probably tend to avoid my shop. For another thing, people never tell me anything at all. You are the first person who has ever taken the time to ask my feelings about anything! Thank you so very much for actually addressing me. I adore my shopkeeper, whom I affectionately refer to as "dem," but it is wonderful to finally be able to speak for myself!

Although I must add that I find it rather hilarious that so many people are frightened of their own body part, which is primarily dedicated to protecting their own brains. Not that I carry living body parts, or even parts that were once alive. However, if there is one fate you all share as humans, is that your lives will eventually come to an end and, given the chance, the only part of you that will still exist after your inevitable departure is the very bones that frighten you. It's like being frightened by your toenails or bellybutton. But humans have always seemed an inscrutable bunch to me.

Me: Well. I have never thought of it that way. I do enjoy El Día de los Muertos. Why don't we begin with some of your items that celebrate that day?

dembones: Ok. As you can imagine, we have many items related to La Día de los Muertos. Here are a few of my favorites:

dembones: I am also very proud of this necklace. It features terra cotta skull beads my shopkeeper brought back herself from Quintana Roo, Mexico. If you look closely enough, you'll find that each skull is unique.

dembones: Speaking of which, I find these to be very popular with children. in fact, if the children who will be eating these tend to have a sweet tooth (and what child doen't?) I'd consider buying two or even three of these lovely nine-pack skulls.

Me: Fortunately, the color of food matters less to me than the taste, so I'd be happy buying one or two of the large boxes.

Me: So far we have been speaking mostly of confectionaries and delicacies in the shape of skulls. Aside from the Mexican bead necklace, do you carry other items designed to be worn rather than eaten?

dembones: Excellent question. These skulls are 7 inches tall and 4 1/2 inches wide. They're non-toxic and safe for the oven or dishwasher, should you plan, shall we say unusual, ways in which to enjoy them.

dembones: May we close with one of my favorite items? I have a black thumb, so to speak...Me: Well, I have a black thumb for real, so let's take a look.

dembones: You can customize the tombstones if you like. For example, perhaps some belladonna or deadly nightshade might be just the thing for those annoying neighbors who keep you up all night. You could invite them in for a nightly cuppa. Just add a slight dash of each to a cup of chamomile tea with honey; only enough to help them sleep through the night. Although in reality, all my products are non-toxic. Ah well.Me: Those tombstones would be the only plants growing in my house! Speaking of which, thank you so much for the tour of your shop.Your items and conversation have been delightful. And when I learned they could be made out of sugar and eaten, my fear of skulls disappeared entirely. I hope to see you again some day as a customer.dembones: That would be lovely, or you can just stop by for a visit and snack (will my mistress be reading this? If so, please make sure she knows it's a small snack!)Me: I'm sure she'll be fine. Maybe she can put aside some "seconds"; skulls with crooked foreheads or missing teeth.dembones: She already does that! A way to teach children that recycled products can also be enjoyed as candy. Please do stop by. I'm always here, though my shopkeeper disappears from time to time.Me: Good to know I have a friend who's always around. Thank you again so very much. It's been a pleasure.dembones: Any time. Especially if we've just had a rather large, ah, spillage? ;)Me: Definitely.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Hello, time travelers. It's been quite a while since I interviewed a new shop for you. Thank you for your patience. Today, I am interviewing ScarletRabbit, a multi-talented shop which uses a variety of material to help clothe you in the gothic, steampunk, or Victorian style to which you will be accustomed after reading this interview.

Me: Do you have a preference between crocheted items and items made from different materials?Scarletrabbit: Not at all. My proprietress is quite skilled in creating a variety of crocheted items, but she is also very talented in other areas as well.

Me: Ok. Let's start with the crocheted chokers. Do you have any favorites?Scarletrabbit: Well, of course I like them all or I wouldn't include them in my shop. But here are some of which I am most proud:

Me: This may sound like a silly question, but are the chokers comfortable? I for one don't like the sensation of being choked!

Scarletrabbit: Don't be ridiculous. My proprietress always strives for beauty and comfort. Cotton crochet is naturally comfortable, and she adds extra stretch in the back, or adjustable ribbons, for the perfect fit. Really, what a silly question!

Me: I'm so sorry. It's just that I'm very sensitive to tight clothing. I don't even like to wear turtlenecks.

Scarletrabbit: Well, I'm sure you would if the turtleneck were made by my proprietress. However, she prefers more (cough) delicate and romantic couture.

Me: Moving on, is the crochet used only for chokers?Scarletrabbit: I believe I have already answered this question. However, I shall repeat myself for your benefit. Of course my proprietress crochets a variety of items. I particularly love her wrist cuffs. Being partial to purple, this pair is one of my favorites:

ScarletRabbit: I particularly appreciate that the pewter watch face pin above would look stunning on both men and women. It works equally well as a pin for hats, collars, shawls, lapels; whatever appeals to the wearer.

Me: I see what you mean. I love items that invite imagination.

ScarletRabbit: Then you have definitely come to the right shop. Who could resist this lovely combination of lace and grapes?

Me: It looks delicious. ScarletRabbit is definitely the shop to visit for crocheted or metal Steampunk and Victorian accessories.

ScarletRabbit: Thank you very much. That was very kind of you.

Me: You're welcome. Though I must confess that the comment was based entirely on my own opinion; it wasn't just an attempt to be polite.

ScarletRabbit: That is exactly the sort of comment I strive for. It is very important for my proprietress to create only the highest quality items that appeal to a broad base of discerning customers.

Me: Thank you so much for the lovely tour.

ScarletRabbit: You are most welcome. Please excuse my initial haughtiness. It was not immediately apparent that you held my items in the most appropriate regard.

Me: I apologize for having given that impression. I very much enjoyed my visit, and I would be proud to recommend you to my family and friends.

ScarletRabbit: I'm delighted to hear you say that. My proprietress and I always strive to please. May I leave you with one of my all-time favorites? This lovely chocker can be fully customized to the buyer's preferences.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Hello, fellow Time Travelers and shops. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing RomanticaNocturnis, a unique shop which sells handmade Victorian clothing. RomanticaNocturnis has been featured on the first page of Etsy as well as being lucky thirteenth in The Dark Side of the Net's article "13 Goth Shops to Tempt your Already Shrinking Wallet."

Me: So many Etsy shops cater primarily to women; we seem to forget that Victorian men wore distinguished clothing as well. How does it feel to be one of the few shops that cater to both sexes?

RomanticaNocturnis: I am very proud to carry clothing for both zee ladies and zee gentlemen alike. Eet seems almost indécent for a couple to dine at a three-star Michelin restaurant à Paris, pour example, eef zee gentleman's standard of attire does not compliment that of zee gentlewoman.

Me: Most definitely. Can you show me some of your favorite men's and women's outfits?

RomanticaNocturnis: Avec plaisir. Theess is one of my favorite ensembles for the proper gentleman:

Me: I would imagine apparel of this stature must be treated with great care.

RomanticaNocturnis: Mais pas de tout. Whenever possible, my shopkeeper, Madamoiselle Joëlle, creates garments zat can be washed and dried automatically. Every exquisite detail of my clothing may appear to have been made in zee Victorian era, but I see no reason not to use zee modern technology aussi. One is amazed at zee fabrique of today; zee most delicate lace zat stretches to almost any size, and some of Madamoiselle Joëlle's creations may be sleeped right over zee body! C'est truly amazing.Me: Does Mademoiselle ever make accessories to wear with her extraordinary clothing?

RomanticaNocturnis: Of course! Zees ees one of my absolute favoreetes:

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Me: Hello, Clockwork Cutie. As might be expected, many but not all of your contents pertain to timepieces, specifically, steampunk timepieces. Are your items intended to be used for telling time, or for their aesthetic beauty?

Clockwork Cutie: Oh, gee. I never really thought about that! Hmm. Nope, I suppose I'm just full of fun and pretty pieces. I kind of doubt that they actually tell time; that's not really the point. But you never know!

Items: (interrupting): We all love Cutie dearly, but she can be a bit of an airhead.

Me: Oops. I didn't realize. My fault entirely; never judge a shop by its name and all that. What a beautiful feather fascinator. Do you have any other non-clockwork related items you'd like to showcase?

Clockwork Cutie: Of course! Sorry about my items interrupting. I guess we're not used to being interviewed. Usually we just hang around and have fun.

Me: No worries. I hope I'm not boring you.

Clockwork Cutie: Of course not! Don't be silly. This is fun!

Me: Moving on, while we're on the subject of pieces not restricted to the theme of time, do you have a particular favorite?

Clockwork Cutie: Well, of course I love all my items, but I particularly like this purple barrette/pin. It's so cool that you can use it two differnt ways. And, well, I have to admit that purple is my favorite color. I wish Amy would use it more often.

Fangtastic: Forgive my impertinence, s'il vous plait, but before we begin, may I state a request?

Me: By all means.

Fangtastic: Of course I welcome all visitors at all times, but I must say that I am at my best after sunset, and would very much prefer if readers of this interview could stop by in the evening.

Me: Can you elaborate on why you prefer night visitors?

Fangtastic: I believe that my shopkeeper Madame says it best in her description of our work:

Variety is the spice of life.

Although my main theme of greeting cards are dark and Gothic,

I do love Halloween, Witches, Edgar Allan Poe and Marie Antoinette.

I believe that is evidenced by my cards.

I strive to offer well made cards that you can't find at Hallmark...yet.

Because most of my items are creatures of the night, they prefer to be viewed as such. I must admit I do not understand exactly why Marie Antoinette inhabits my shop. Wow that she has passed on to the great unknown, perhaps Marie Antoinette also prefers visitors of the night. Perhaps you should ask this question of Madame herself?

Me: I will most certainly do that. Can you tell me why your shopkeeper has adopted such anenigmatic name?

Fangtastic: Mais oui, I could do that, but it would be très impolite. I do not know if it is her desire to reveal such information to the public; had that been her intent, peut-être she would have done so herself?

Me: Well put. Could you tell me some of your favorite items, and why you chose them?

Fangtastic: Bien sûr! To choose is, how do I say, difficile, because all Madame's cards are exquisite yet unique, and their messages are timeless.

Here is an example of my Madame's penchant for the pun, and for the gothic red and black. I cannot think of anyone who would not be honored to receive cette carte, pardonez-moi, this card, vampire, human, or other:

Before it slips my memory, might I add that am very proud that all of my cards ship for free? They are left blank on the inside, for your own unique words. Such elegant gestures on the part of my Madame. And of course I am always adding new cards for new tastes and occasions.

Me: Quite so. You mentioned an aversion to the inclusion of Marie Antoinette amongst your items?

Fangtastic: Mais non, pas du tout! Not at all. I merely wonder about her presence with my other items. Nonetheless, this card of hers beautifully captures such a universal truth; love is all you need:

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hello, fellow Time Travelers. This is the first in a series of interviews I will be conducting with member's shops. Yes, I will be interviewing the shops, not the shopkeepers. I feel this addresses an unmet need in grasping a true understanding of the Time Traveler's Team. After all, where would we be without our shops? Would we be time travelers at all?

SassySteampunk has generously offered to be the first shop to be interviewed. Much to the shop's chagrin, I have asked and received permission from the shopkeeper, Kim. SassySteampunk fails to see why that is necessary, but it's best to cover all bases.

Well, it's only right, given that I am *the* sassiest steampunk shop on Etsy.

Me:

Well put. How do you feel about being a shop on Etsy?

SassySteampunk:

That's a difficult question to answer. On the one hand, I am very proud to be displayed in the company of such high quality shops. On the other hand, I'm afraid I have precious little control over my own appearance, other than inserting myself into my shopkeeper Kim's mind as she sleeps, voicing my preferences, and hoping she recalls them as "flashes of inspiration," such as my good friend the Steampunk Necklace Glow in the Dark Helm of Your Airship:

Does that imply you exert a certain amount of control over your shopkeeper's creations?

SassySteampunk:

No no, not at all. I merely try to influence my appearance. The creation of items to sell is not of my concern.

Me: Do you like the items which you display?

SassySteampunk:

Oh, very much so. Otherwise I would utilize certain tricks of the trade to move certain items, shall we say, to expired or inactive? I rarely feel the need to exercise any editorial changes. In fact, I believe my items to be amongst the best on Etsy.

Not only is she quite adorable and very reasonably priced, her lovely shoes and wings allow her to escape whenever she pleases.

Me:

What do you mean, escape?

SassySteampunk:

Certainly you don't think we shops lie dormant as our shopkeepers sleep? We are Time Travelers, after all. However we always return all items to our shops in their original condition and location when our shopkeeper awakens.

Me:

How do you handle the difference in time zones? What would you do if an item were traveling through time while someone in a different time zone wanted to buy it?

SassySteampunk:

We are closely attuned to the universe, and available at a moment's notice to return for perusal or purchase.

Me:

Can you tell me a few other favorite items?

SassySteampunk:

Well, of course there's the notorious Night of Shadows Vampire Bat Steampunk Necklace, which has been so heavily featured in TTT treasuries of late:

Still, I must give credit where credit is due; Kim does manage to collect quite a unique selection of steampunk parts. Though i blush to say it, I have had many interesting conversations about old-fashioned television shows with the following set of vintage TV tubes:

Oh, no. I leave my business needs entirely in my shopkeeper's most capable hands. After all, she has had well over 1000 sales, all of which garnished favorable feedback. I trust her implicitly.

Me:

Do you have any parting words of wisdom?

SassySteampunk: Well I do wish the Steampunk Necklace Brown Evil Eye Talisman would close his eye once in a while. It's very bright, and while I'm not reading in the light of the Glow-in-the-Dark necklace, it would be nice to be able to get a little shut-eye. Ahem.

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of advice for other TTT members, or buyers?

SassySteampunk: Well, you should have said so! New members can gain countless tips from the way my mistress organizes her shop, and buyers everywhere would be doing themselves a great disservice by passing over me. Not to toot my own horn, which I do not have, but I am well known as one of the largest, most diverse, and classiest steampunk shops on Etsy.

Me: Thank you so much for your time,

SassySteampunk. It's been a pleasure speaking with you, and I'm certain you've been of great help to all Etsy shops.